Published: Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 4, 2010 at 11:40 p.m.

HOUMA — Local politicians said the outlook for south Louisiana is still dire despite a meeting with President Obama Friday in New Orleans to discuss the ongoing oil disaster.

Terrebonne and Lafourche's parish presidents, along with a gaggle of state and federal politicians, reiterated their concerns about the suspension of deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and the toll it will take on local businesses, employees, families and taxes that support schools and public services.

But those concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears, according to Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, who said she left the meeting with “zero optimism.”

“He said that this is the action he has taken, and he's not wavering from it,” Randolph said about the six-month ban on new drilling in Gulf of Mexico deepwaters. “I keep imploring the president to understand what he is doing to us. I don't think he does. I don't think he understands.”

In response to their concerns about offshore drilling, Obama said the ban may not last a full six months if his commission finishes its report on deepwater safety sooner, Randolph said.

Once the ban is lifted, Obama said the drilling rigs and service companies will return to mine the oil reserves under the Gulf of Mexico's floor, said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet.

“He's a really brilliant man, but I'm not positive I agree with that statement,” Claudet said.

Obama told local and state officials that those who lose their oilfield jobs will qualify for government unemployment benefits and BP's unemployment claims process.

But Claudet said he “questions whether BP will pick up the massive losses related” to Obama's order.

Randolph said she also explained massive layoffs would mean workers who had been making $80,000 a year would be reduced to living off unemployment checks of about $200 a week.

She said the president is treating locals “like lesser Americans,” highlighting stimulus-related job growth around the country while allowing an estimated 150,000 jobs to be lost because of the drilling ban.

Randolph said the spill is impacting two of the area's most vibrant industries — fishing and oil and gas — and that “does not give us much cause for hope.”

“Everything else seems insignificant compared to this,” Randolph said. “I'm sitting in meetings about levees and I'm wondering ‘What's the point, if no one is going to be here anymore?' ”

They also talked about fishermen who are still waiting for additional claim payments from BP and the need to change the claim process to account for particular issues at processors and shrimp factories. For instance, factories have stored shrimp, oysters or fish that they are able to sell, but have laid off workers because no new product is coming in.

“We've assigned federal folks to look over BP's shoulder and to work with state and local officials to make sure that claims are being processed quickly, fairly and that BP is not lawyering up, essentially, when it comes to these claims,” Obama said.

Obama also assured officials that a second round of checks are being sent, and he instructed Allen to increase the hiring of local fishermen in the oil-spill response.

“Coming from the president that was probably the only encouraging statement,” Randolph said.

The president's visit Friday also took him to Grand Isle where he met with residents, fishermen and business owners who have been impacted by the oil spill.

Staff Writer Naomi King can be reached at 857-2209 and naomi.king@houmatoday.com.

<p>HOUMA — Local politicians said the outlook for south Louisiana is still dire despite a meeting with President Obama Friday in New Orleans to discuss the ongoing oil disaster.</p><p>Terrebonne and Lafourche's parish presidents, along with a gaggle of state and federal politicians, reiterated their concerns about the suspension of deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and the toll it will take on local businesses, employees, families and taxes that support schools and public services.</p><p>But those concerns seemed to fall on deaf ears, according to Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, who said she left the meeting with “zero optimism.”</p><p>“He said that this is the action he has taken, and he's not wavering from it,” Randolph said about the six-month ban on new drilling in Gulf of Mexico deepwaters. “I keep imploring the president to understand what he is doing to us. I don't think he does. I don't think he understands.”</p><p>Other officials at the meeting, held at Louis Armstrong International Airport, were Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., U.S. Reps. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, and Joseph Cao, R-New Orleans, Jefferson Parish President Steve Theriot, Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen and Govs. Bob Reilly of Alabama and Charlie Crist of Florida.</p><p>In response to their concerns about offshore drilling, Obama said the ban may not last a full six months if his commission finishes its report on deepwater safety sooner, Randolph said. </p><p>Once the ban is lifted, Obama said the drilling rigs and service companies will return to mine the oil reserves under the Gulf of Mexico's floor, said Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet.</p><p>“He's a really brilliant man, but I'm not positive I agree with that statement,” Claudet said.</p><p>Obama told local and state officials that those who lose their oilfield jobs will qualify for government unemployment benefits and BP's unemployment claims process.</p><p>But Claudet said he “questions whether BP will pick up the massive losses related” to Obama's order.</p><p>Randolph said she also explained massive layoffs would mean workers who had been making $80,000 a year would be reduced to living off unemployment checks of about $200 a week.</p><p>She said the president is treating locals “like lesser Americans,” highlighting stimulus-related job growth around the country while allowing an estimated 150,000 jobs to be lost because of the drilling ban.</p><p>Randolph said the spill is impacting two of the area's most vibrant industries — fishing and oil and gas — and that “does not give us much cause for hope.”</p><p>“Everything else seems insignificant compared to this,” Randolph said. “I'm sitting in meetings about levees and I'm wondering 'What's the point, if no one is going to be here anymore?' ”</p><p>They also talked about fishermen who are still waiting for additional claim payments from BP and the need to change the claim process to account for particular issues at processors and shrimp factories. For instance, factories have stored shrimp, oysters or fish that they are able to sell, but have laid off workers because no new product is coming in.</p><p>“We've assigned federal folks to look over BP's shoulder and to work with state and local officials to make sure that claims are being processed quickly, fairly and that BP is not lawyering up, essentially, when it comes to these claims,” Obama said.</p><p>Obama also assured officials that a second round of checks are being sent, and he instructed Allen to increase the hiring of local fishermen in the oil-spill response.</p><p>“Coming from the president that was probably the only encouraging statement,” Randolph said.</p><p>The president's visit Friday also took him to Grand Isle where he met with residents, fishermen and business owners who have been impacted by the oil spill.</p><p>Staff Writer Naomi King can be reached at 857-2209 and naomi.king@houmatoday.com.</p>